All About Electricity

June 18, 2015

6pm -
8pm

West Hawai'i Civic Center, Council Chambers

We use it around the clock and complain about its cost. We all need electricity. What will NextEra’s $4.3 billion purchase of Hawaii’s multi-island private electric utility, Hawaii Electric Inc., mean to the state’s clean energy future and to the utility’s customers of Hawai’i County?

Electricity prices in Hawai’i are currently the highest in the country, at nearly three times the national average. What are the benefits that NextEra’s acquisition brings to Hawai’i?

Hawai’i boasts one of the fastest adoption rates of rooftop solar in the nation. With so many home grown Hawai’i solar jobs at stake, will Hawaii’s new power provider and utility follow a similar pattern of utilities in other states who are actively engaged in a war on solar (seen as competitive to their business interests) and stymie its popular adoption?

Is the current 20th century utility revenue model still relevant to Hawaii’s solar economy?

Can Consumers become their own utility and successfully disconnect from the grid?

Is Hawaii ready to adopt NextEra’s plans to upgrade its newly acquired Hawai’i power plants (fueled by the dirtiest of fossil fuels: coal and oil) with another imported fossil fuel (natural gas), and all in exchange for the promise of cheaper electricity rates?

How will the power of size, money, and political influence by Florida-based NextEra transform Hawaii’s energy future? Will Hawaii’s PUC protect the public interest?

These and many other questions important to customers of HEI (HELCO) will be discussed by a panel of experts, each with a different outlook on Hawaii’s electricity dependent future.

Forum Media Contact:

Bill Bugbee
tel: 808-339-7593
email: bbugbee@westhawaiiforum.org

This forum took place on June 18, 2015, at 6pm at West Hawai'i Civic Center, Council Chambers.

Upcoming Forum

Become a Supporter

Who We Are

Community Forums is a private non-profit organization with a 501c (3) designation from the IRS. Its mission is to bring educational resources to the residents of West Hawai'i so they can better participate in the public policy issues that affect their lives and their communities.